CRISIS: Hartbeespoort Dam needs you

The team only has sufficient funds to clear about 10 percent of the infestation and it is predicted that at the current rate of growth the dam will be 90 percent covered by December this year.

THE infestation of water hyacinths that has plagued the dam for years has once again grown out of control. According to the Hartbeespoort Dam Rehabilitation Steering Committee, the dam is currently 40 per cent covered in the invasive plant which doubles in size every two weeks or so.

The clearing of the water hyacinths is an extremely costly endeavor; one that is being undertaken almost entirely by the residents and local businesses.

The public can get involved in several ways. An important collection at the moment is that of 2lt cold drink bottles.

The water hyacinths move around the dam extremely quickly, as the wind changes direction. This makes the clearing process even more difficult and time-consuming. The bottles will be used to create buoyant nets around the plants to keep them in one area while they are being cleared. The bottles will also make the nets more visible for other dam users.

Caxton Local Media has offered various offices in the Gauteng area as collection points for these bottles. Please find a list of drop off points listed below. Please note that the bottles must have their lids and the labels removed.

Should you wish to donate bottles, please drop them at our offices situated at 1 Eaton Terrace, ground floor of the Terrace Building, New Redruth, Alberton or at any one of the other Caxton Local Media offices:

• 1187 Cornelius Street, Weltevreden Park

• 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park

• 61 Van Der Walt Road, Brakpan

• 48 5th Avenue, Springs

• 20 Sydney Road, Boksburg

• Corner 14th Avenue and O’Reilly Merry Street, Benoni

• 126 Monument Road, Kempton Park

• 25 Main Road, Fishers Hill, Germiston

• Shop 18A Greenstone Crescent, Greenstone Hill

• 32 Orpen Avenue, Lydiana

• Corner General Pienaar and Ham streets, Witpoortjie

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